Dr. John Articles
| Don't let colleague steal credit for your work |
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| Written by Dr. John McFerran |
| Saturday, 25 July 2009 00:00 |
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A fiercely competitive work environment can become all the more bloodthirsty when a co-worker attempts to take the credit for your work. When someone rips off your great idea and claims it as their own, it can be demoralizing and damaging to what is supposed to be a team environment. Your first reaction may be to lash out at your colleague or to storm into the boss's office and demand to have your side of the story heard. But before you cry thief, assess the entire situation and figure out the best way to deal with this invasion by an idea snatcher. Here are some tips for clearing the air: Take a deep breath and count to 10. This means don't react impulsively, especially if you are angry. Instead of assuming the worst, take time to reassess the situation and ensure your co-worker did not speak out of turn or accidentally misinterpret your claim on an idea ("I thought it was a suggestion meant for me to use."). Is it possible you did not get the recognition you deserve because of a miscommunication, not malice? How will this really affect you? If you lose out on a promotion or get passed over for a pay raise because someone else stole the credit, you definitely need to speak up. But if it is not a matter of great importance, decide if a public confrontation is worth potentially damaging your reputation and work relationships. Back up your claim. Review your work, notes or emails and find a way to prove that you are in fact the originator of the ideas. If any of your colleagues have heard you discuss the project with the individual in question, ask if they will back you up. Talk to the person and get their side of the story. As tempting as it may be to take it up with the boss right away, it is important to first speak to the other party. Calmly and quietly, tell them that you believe they have taken credit for your work and how you feel about it. Reconfirm your contribution, performance or participation on the project to ensure the situation is not simply an error or oversight. Speak with your supervisor confidentially. If the one-on-one conversation with your co-worker fails to resolve the matter, ask for a meeting with the boss to discuss the situation. State your case without getting too emotional. Explain if you believe this is a one-time incident or if you see a troubling pattern of behaviour emerging. Present all the facts and then let your boss decide the best course of action to take. Take the high road and take back the credit. When speaking to your boss about the situation, refrain from finger pointing or making your co-worker look bad. Instead, be composed and confident, choosing phrases like, "I'm pleased Joe kept you well informed about my suggestion to cut expenses. Now let me explain the details of what I have in mind...." Secure your work. Encrypt or password-protect your work files so that your efforts can remain confidential until you are ready to present them on your own terms. In the future, be proactive in promoting yourself. It will be impossible for a co-worker to present your ideas as their own if you beat them to the punch. Step up and look for opportunities to bend the boss's ear before anyone else does. Stealing credit is much harder if you let the boss know what you are doing and how much you are accomplishing on a regular basis. It's also important that you give your boss the benefit of the doubt. What may look like favouritism from the outside (Why does he or she think that guy is a genius when I do all the work?) may actually be because the boss has been misled or misinformed. By following the above steps and handling a volatile work situation with maturity, you will surely earn the boss's respect, along with all the credit that you rightfully deserve. -- With reporting by Barbara Chabai John McFerran, PhD, CMC, F. CHRP, is founder and president of People First HR Services Ltd. For more information, visit www.peoplefirsthr.com. RESEARCH: |